Article Writing Best Practices

Article Writing Best Practices

Effective article writing for an online audience involves more than just the grammar. There are guidelines to follow, SEO content strategies to include and more points to adhere to. Online article writing aims at serving a specific purpose, and this should be reflected in the content itself. The practices highlighted in this article should help you develop a better understanding of how to write great articles.

Understand and research the topic

The initial step is to understand the topic. Normally, a client gives you a specific title, a general topic or a problem question. If you get a general topic or problem question, then you have to come up with a title for the article. Either way, you should take time to understand

Your research should be specific and comprehensive. You should always do as much research as possible on a topic; at least 3-5 sources on each key point. Considering you already understand the topic and how you want to address it, this should be an easy task since you can research each point individually. Check to ensure that your research is from credible online sources, in the event that you need to generate backlinks or quote something. Always double check statistics and other specific research-based material before including them in your article.

Understand your audience

Before you get to actual writing, you should make an effort to understand your audience. Each online audience is different and that influences the direction the content should take. For instance, how advanced is the audience in terms of grammar? How technical or easy should the article be? By understanding your audience, you can tailor your article to address and appeal to them directly.

Writing the

However, I am of the opinion that you shouldn’t leave a point unexplored just to conform to a word count. Inversely, you shouldn’t over explain a point to achieve the word count. In fact, avoid filler content at all costs. Keep the sentences short and to the point and avoid using a lot of sentence breaks. Keep complex sentences to a minimum, especially if they include more than one idea.

Split your work into paragraphs. Readers are put off by a block of words. Instead, split your main ideas into different paragraphs as you write. There are those who suggest limiting your paragraphs to a specific number of words, but I am of the opinion that you should maintain a paragraph until the end of the main idea.

Format and SEO structure

For the format, the article should include a title, a body and a conclusion. The body should include the introduction and key points. Unless directed otherwise, you should divide your main ideas/key points using sub-headings.

Most freelance writers are misguided in believing that keywords are all there is to SEO. How you arrange the content, the quality of your content, and the title are also part of SEO. You should check to ensure that your content measures up to the current SEO standards.

Editing and